MTDC stops operation of Club Faru resort

Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has said that it stopped the operation of Club Faru resort (Kaafu Farukolhufushi) on 15 May. The government had temporarily handed over the operation of Club Faru to MTDC.

Managing Director of MTDC Mohamed Matheen said that Tourism Ministry had been notified to take over the operation of the resort.

“There are no tourists on the island right now. We stopped the operation of the island, and have been temporarily taking care of the island until a decision is made,” he said.

Matheen said that Tourism Ministry had been requested, prior to the expiry of the first period, to extend the period for MTDC to operate the resort.

“We wanted to operate the island until the reclamation of Hulhumale’ begins. Even though we let tourists come to the resort, our plan was to empty and hand over the island by giving one month’s notice. But we still don’t know when the reclamation will begin. But we have to keep some staff there to monitor the island until the government takes over,” he said.

Matheen said that staff in the island had been reduced to about twenty.

Tourism Ministry said earlier that the operation of Club Faru was handed over to MTDC until the commencement of the phase two of the Hulhumale’ reclamation project.

Housing Development Corporation (HDC), in charge of Hulhumale’ development, has said that discussions were ongoing with two foreign companies regarding phase two of the Hulhumale’ reclamation project. The Hulhumale’ reclamation project also includes Club Faru.

Managing Director of HDC Suhail Ahmed said that Tourism Ministry had been requested to hand over Club Faru to HDC.